The House Committee on Dangerous Drugs chaired by Surigao del Norte Representative Ace Barbers approved House Bill No. 90 which would institute the magna carta of benefits for the officers and personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Under the proposed magna carta, PDEA workers will be provided with acceptable living and working conditions, better terms of employment, and career opportunities so that they can effectively carry out their duties.
PDEA workers will be provided with acceptable living and working conditions, better terms of employment, and career opportunities.
“In return for ensuring that our nation is safe from the dangers of illegal drugs, this bill seeks to ensure that PDEA agents are provided sufficient compensation and accorded avenues for professionalization,” Barbers said.
The committee also approved the substitute bill to HB 90 and its corresponding committee report.
The panel moreover adopted the report of the technical working group (TWG) that ANAKALUSUGAN Party-list Representative Ray Reyes chaired that tackled several bills seeking the creation of anti-drug abuse councils in all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays throughout the country.
These bills are HB 93 by Barbers, HB 756 by Iloilo City Representative Julienne Baronda, and HB 4135 by Northern Samar Representative Harris Christopher Ongchuan.
Bills that would amend Republic Act 9165, as amended, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 were also discussed.
HB 5333, by Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez, seeks to strengthen drug prevention and control, while HB 6499 proposes to remove the requirement for the presence of a representative of the National Prosecution Service during anti-drug operations.
HB 6783, by Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, proposes to remove cannabis and any form or derivative thereof from the list of dangerous drugs and substances under existing laws.
HB 7094, by Ilocos Sur Representative Ronald Singson, provides for the immediate destruction of confiscated, seized and/or surrendered dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs and controlled precursors and essential chemicals.
The panel referred the said bills to the TWG chaired by Leyte Representative Richard Gomez.
The committee likewise approved the motion for an inquiry be conducted motu propio, in aid of legislation, into the alleged recycling of illegal substances as rewards to assets of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and PDEA.
“Kaya siguro hindi matapos-tapos ang recycling because the assets who give information and sellers are being rewarded (with) items that are seized or apprehended.”
“Kaya siguro hindi matapos-tapos ang recycling because the assets who give information and sellers are being rewarded (with) items that are seized or apprehended, ito ‘yung shabu. So ang nirereward sa kanila 30 percent na shabu binabalik (which) the assets will now sell back to the streets,” Barbers said.
